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It remains unclear what proportion of patients with tricuspid regurgitation (TR) are suitable candidates for transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention (TTVI) in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of eligibility for tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER) and transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) devices among patients with TR. The tricuspid valve anatomy of all consecutive patients with TR who were considered for TTVI in local heart team conferences was retrospectively reviewed. According to current expert consensus, the anatomical feasibility for T-TEER was classified into 3 groups: favorable, feasible, and unfavorable anatomy. Clinical and anatomical eligibility for TTVR was evaluated in patients with cardiac computed tomographic (CCT) images. Among 491 patients, 99 (20.2%) and 235 (47.9%) were considered to have favorable and feasible anatomy for T-TEER, respectively. In contrast, 157 patients (32.0%) had unfavorable anatomy for T-TEER. The most common reason for unfavorable anatomy for T-TEER was large coaptation gap width (66.2%), followed by anteroposterior TR jet location (62.4%). Among 327 patients with CCT images, 205 (62.7%) were judged to be clinically or anatomically ineligible for TTVR, mainly because of tricuspid annuli larger than commercially available prosthesis sizes (65.4%). Combined echocardiographic and CCT assessment showed that 23.2% of the patients with TR were ineligible for both T-TEER and TTVR. Of 491 patients requiring TTVI, 32.0% had unfavorable anatomy for T-TEER, and 37.3% of patients with CCT images were eligible for TTVR. Despite the emergence of TTVR devices, 23.2% of patients with TR remained ineligible for both T-TEER and TTVR. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: We assessed the safety profile of tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) in patients with right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. METHODS: We identified patients undergoing TEER to treat tricuspid regurgitation from June 2015 to October 2021 and assessed tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and RV fractional area change (RVFAC). RV dysfunction was defined as TAPSE <17 mm and RVFAC <35%. The primary end point was 30-day mortality after TEER. We also investigated the change in the RV function in the early phase and clinical outcomes at 2 years. RESULTS: The study participants (n=262) were at high surgical risk (EuroSCORE II, 6.2% [interquartile range, 4.0%–10.3%]). Among them, 44 patients met the criteria of RV dysfunction. Thirty-day mortality was 3.2% in patients with normal RV function and 2.3% in patients with RV dysfunction (P=0.99). Tricuspid regurgitation reduction to ≤2+ was consistently achieved irrespective of RV dysfunction (76.5% versus 70.5%; P=0.44). TAPSE and RVFAC declined after TEER in patients with normal RV function (TAPSE, 19.0±4.7 to 17.9±4.5 mm; P=0.001; RVFAC, 46.2%±8.1% to 40.3%±9.7%; P<0.001). In contrast, those parameters were unchanged or tended to increase in patients with RV dysfunction (TAPSE, 13.2±2.3 to 15.3±4.7 mm; P=0.011; RVFAC, 29.6%±4.1% to 31.6%±8.3%; P=0.14). Two years after TEER, compared with patients with normal RV function, patients with RV dysfunction had significantly higher mortality (27.0% versus 56.3%; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TEER was safe and feasible to treat tricuspid regurgitation in patients with RV dysfunction. The decline in the RV function was observed in patients with normal RV function but not in patients with RV dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Prognostic impact of post‐procedural changes in right ventricular (RV) function after tricuspid transcatheter edge‐to‐edge repair (T‐TEER) is still unclear. We investigated association of RV function and its post‐procedural changes with clinical outcomes in patients undergoing T‐TEER. Methods and results: We retrospectively analysed 204 patients who underwent T‐TEER and echocardiographic follow‐up at 3 months after T‐TEER. RV function was assessed by RV fractional area change (RVFAC), and RV dysfunction was defined as RVFAC <35%. Patients with an increase in RVFAC from baseline to the follow‐up were considered as RV responders. Patients were divided into four groups according to baseline RVFAC and the RV responder. The primary outcome was a composite of mortality and hospitalization due to heart failure within 1 year. Forty‐five of 204 patients (22.1%) had RVFAC <35% at baseline, and 71 (34.8%) were RV responders. The association between the RV responder and the composite outcome had a significant interaction with RVFAC at baseline. Among patients with baseline RVFAC <35%, RV responders had a lower risk of the composite outcome than RV non‐responders, while this association was not significant in those with baseline RVFAC ≥35%. Among patients with baseline RVFAC <35%, a smaller RV diameter and a greater reduction of tricuspid regurgitation were predictors for the RV responder. Conclusion: Post‐procedural increase in RVFAC after T‐TEER is associated with improved outcomes in patients with RV dysfunction. The factors related to the increase in RVFAC may support patient selection for T‐TEER in patients with RV dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of assessment of mitral annular calcification (MAC) using cardiac computed tomography (CCT) in mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of MAC assessed by CCT with procedural and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing TEER. We retrospectively analyzed 275 patients who underwent pre-procedural CCT prior TEER. Mitral calcium volume (MCV) and MAC score were measured by CCT. Functional procedural success was defined as residual mitral regurgitation of ≤2+ with mean transmitral gradient of <5 ​mmHg at discharge. All-cause mortality within two years after TEER was collected. MAC was present in 115 of 275 patients (41.8 %). The median MCV was 198 ​mm3 (interquartile range [IQR]: 84 to 863 ​mm3), and the median MAC score was 3 (IQR: 2 to 4). Higher MCV and MAC score were inversely related to the rate of functional procedural success, independently of anatomical features of mitral valve. Patients with moderate/severe MAC, defined as MAC score of ≥4, had a lower rate of functional procedural success than those without MAC (56.1 ​% vs. 81.3 ​%; p ​= ​0.002). Moreover, higher MCV and MAC score were associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality within two years, irrespective of baseline characteristics and functional procedural success. The presence and burden of MAC assessed by CCT were associated with procedural and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing TEER. The CCT-based assessment of MAC may improve patient selection for TEER. [Display omitted] We retrospectively assessed mitral calcium volume (MCV) and mitral annular calcification (MAC) score using cardiac computed tomography (CT) in 275 patients undergoing mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER). Higher MCV and MAC score were inversely related to the rate of functional procedural success of TEER, independently of anatomical features of mitral valve. Moreover, the presence of MAC and its severity was associated with two-year all-cause mortality after TEER. The quantitative assessment of MAC using cardiac CT may improve patient selection for mitral TEER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the rate and clinical impact of a persisting iatrogenic atrial septal defect (iASD) after percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO). Background: Percutaneous LAAO is an alternative to oral anticoagulation (OAC) for the prevention of ischemic stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Data regarding incidence and persistence of iASD after LAAO procedures and its clinical relevance is scarce. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 144 patients that underwent LAAO at our center between 2009 and 2020 who had at least one follow‐up including transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Baseline clinical, procedural data and echocardiographic characteristics in patients with and without evidence of an iASD were compared. We furthermore determined the rate of iASD persistence over time and evaluated outcomes of patients with and without spontaneous iASD closure. Results: After a median of 92 days (IQR 75–108 days) after LAAO, 50 patients (50/144, 34.7%) showed evidence of an iASD. Patients with iASD had higher CHADS‐VASc‐scores (4.9±1.5 vs 4.2±1.2, p = 0.03), larger left atrial volumes (80.5±30.5 ml vs 67.1±19.7 ml, p = 0.01) and were more likely to have relevant mitral regurgitation (≥° II) (46.0% vs 12.3%, p = 0.001). LAAO procedures took longer (50.1±24.3 vs 41.1±17.8 min, p = 0.06) in patients with a persisting iASD. Furthermore, larger device sizes were implanted (24.3±3.4 mm vs 22.1±2.8 mm, p = 0.03). The presence of an iASD had no impact on RV dysfunction, thromboembolism or mortality. Spontaneous closure of an iASD was documented in 52.0% (26/50). Hereby, similar risk factors were identified for the persistence of an iASD in follow‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) mediates reverse cholesterol transport and is known to be protective against atherosclerosis. In addition, HDL has potent anti-inflammatory properties that may be critical for protection against other inflammatory diseases. The molecular mechanisms of how HDL can modulate inflammation, particularly in immune cells such as macrophages, remain poorly understood. Here we identify the transcriptional regulator ATF3, as an HDL-inducible target gene in macrophages that downregulates the expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-induced proinflammatory cytokines. The protective effects of HDL against TLR-induced inflammation were fully dependent on ATF3 in vitro and in vivo. Our findings may explain the broad anti-inflammatory and metabolic actions of HDL and provide the basis for predicting the success of new HDL-based therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]